Tasmania's A League push gains support

The push for a Tasmanian side in the A League grows with the voice of the World Game, Les Murray putting his name up there in support. Tasmania has been pressing for a license in either the AFL, or A League for the last few years. Even back in the early years of the League, Tasmania was close to getting together a bid.

A Hobart millionaire was willing to put up the money to support the start up of a side, and the Tasmanian Government have said they would support a push for the license if the AFL rejected the bit for a Tasmanian side. The Tasmanian Cricket Association are even trying to work a deal with current A League side Central Coast Mariners to bring them down to play at Bellerive.

This year two of Tasmania's best young football prospects William Abbott and Jeremy Walker, who are both products of the National Training Centre (NTC) Men's Football Program. Which is part of the Tasmanian Institute of Sport were invited to trial in the Brisbane Roar.

Abbott already has an extensive list of representative honours for the state, including captain of the under 14 and under 15 Tasmanian teams.

Abbott was impressive in front of a home crowd as apart of the Tasmanian side, that hosted A League side Central Coast Mariners in the pre-season. Abbott was invited to trial with the Central Coast Mariners in September off the back of his impressive performance, and May was also in talks with other clubs interested in both players.

At just 16 years of age, Walker had a stint on the Fox8 reality-TV show Football Superstar earlier this year and finished sixth out of 88 hopefuls aged 16 to 21. Walker has his sights set on getting himself an A-League contract with a national youth side.

The Tasmanian Youth Side has also had big games against other clubs in the nation, facing Heidelberg United, and also playing Brisbane Roar. Both games were played at North Hobart Oval, and Tasmania did well against both sides and managed to also see 1,000 people show up.

Tasmania even hosted Premier League club Sunderland, back in 1976, it was 3 years after the Black Cats won premotion into the First Division, and won the FA Cup in 1973. The game between Tasmania and sunderland took place at KGV Soccer Park, in front of 2,000 fans.

Mel Holden scored all of Sunderland's goals, while Tasmania’s John Constantinovits lined up for a penalty. In goals that was Jim Montgomery, who would be remembered for his brilliant double-reflex save against Trevor Cherry’s diving header and Peter Lorimer’s follow-up volley which took place in the FA Cup Final against Leeds in 1973.

Jim Montgomery saved the panalty and the vistors would win the game 5-0, since then the Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners have played in Tasmania. The growing crowds has seen footballs interest in the state grow, even if the local games don't get the big crowds during the winter months.

An A League side could see the rise of football in this state, which used to be the highest participated sport in the state, Australian Rules football has managed to overtake that again, but a Tasmanian A League side could see this change again.

Les Murray believes it's not a national comp without Tasmania, Tasmania are keen to come into the league in 2012-2013. Will the Tasmanian public take to Tasmania United, should they get in?

Only time will tell, but the side has already worked out the North and South rivalry, they have said they will play games in the North and South, half the games at Aurora Stadium, and the others at Bellerive Oval.

One final hurdle down here, the TCA seem to be on board with getting the A League in the state, hopefully soon we see Tasmania United in the A League.